If you dont see a pre-teen govinda atop the human pyramid on August 18 during the dahi handi festivities, its thanks to the stand taken by authorities and activists who have demanded a ban on including minor children in climbing the pyramid. Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria issued a warning to all dahi handi mandals, banning the inclusion of minor children in the climbing. The police chief has also directed his men to keep a close watch on local groups and those which have children in the pyramids, will face stringent action. Similarly, BJP MP from Mumbai North Central Poonam Mahajan took up the matter with the Ministry of Women and Child Development, urging Minister Maneka Gandhi to advise the Maharashtra Government to ban children under the age of 12. The festival features innumerable troupes that form human pyramids and every troupe usually has three to four children under the age of 12 climbing the last tier of the pyramid, she says. Noting that several accidents involving minor children have been witnessed in the past, the MP has brought up the issue despite many sections of groups expressing dissent over the ban on minors. Accidents during the dahi handi festival have been a concern for several years now. While hundreds suffer injuries every year. At least two young govindas died of fatal injuries in 2013. Last week, a 14-year-old boy died after he fell during a practice session of climbing the pyramid. The Bombay High Court, too, has directed the Maharashtra state government to regulate the height of human pyramids during Janmashtami festival. For years, the dahi handi celebrations have been viewed as an important supporter base for political parties and politicians who nurture and fund these social groups. Several politicians across Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra organize large-scale celebrations, roping in Bollywood stars, professional musicians and rising cash prizes. Offering transportation, sponsorship and prize money, the organizers build a rapport with these mandals and later recruit them as volunteers during elections and party work. Cracking the handi started out as a festival dedicated to Lord Krishna who, in Indian mythology, was known for his love for cream and dahi. However, over the past few years, the Janmashtami celebrations have taken on a political hue with rival politicians wooing crowds and mandals with handis at greater heights and increasing prize money. The commercialization of the festival is also evident by the presence of filmstars at events organized by politicians. A few years ago, Pratap Sarnaik was ridiculed for organizing a dahi handi-like party at a suburban Mumbai five star discotheque while NCP leader Sachin Ahirs festivities at Jamboree Maidan have witnessed Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan make an appearance. With state elections round the corner, this years dahi handi celebrations could have seen pots at greater heights and fatter cash prizes. But with the authorities and individual politicians taking a stand to minimize accidents, the festival is likely to have little govindas
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 07:37:15 +0000
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